Apparatus for separating gases



Aug. 22, 1939. E. c. FURRER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GASES Filed Aug. 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f2 were far [way CZZI/"f?" wzzarra y Aug. 22, 1939. E. c. FURRER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GASES Filed Aug. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Weze/ar [fwd/ y 6 1542762" Patented Aug. 22, 1939' UNITED STATES PATENT ornet:

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for separating gases. v

An object of the invention is to provide means for compressing the gases as the same flow to- 5 ward a point or region where separation takes place, abstracting the heat of compression by means of the expansion of the separated gases to thereby expand the latter and utilizing the velocity of the expanding gases for effecting the rotation of the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a broken vertical section of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a number of heat conducting and impeller blades adapted to be acted on by one of the separated gases for imparting rotary movement to the structure.

Figure 4 is a view of other heat conducting and impeller blades as viewed on line 2-4 of Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6, and 7 are similar views of blades taken on line 5--5; 6--6; and 'I'| of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the gas separating zone of the machine. I

In separating gases by centrifugal action by the improved method, such as separating oxygen and nitrogen of the air, the latter is introduced into the machine preferably from any suitable compressor under sub-critical pressure, and a temperature below the critical temperature of the oxygen. The centrifugal action I increases the pressure of the air to that at which the oxygen at the low temperature obtaining begins to liquefy, that is, to the dewpoint of the oxygen so that it can be separated from the nitrogen by the centrifuging action of the machine.

During the increase in pressure as the air travels to the separating zone of the machine, the heat of compression is conducted to the blades and surrounding walls of oxygen and nitrogen turbines for absorption by those gases for expanding the same as they pass through the turbines'which impart rotary movement to the machine. While mixed gases other than oxygen and nitrogen may be separatedv by utilizing the principles of the invention, the apparatus will be described specifically in connection with the separation of the two gases mentioned in the proportion as the same occur in the atmosphere.

In the drawings, (see Fig. 1) I 0 is a supporting base in which an annular casing ll having end walls Ila and H1) is supported. Within the casing a structure is mounted for rotation on any suitable bearings such as shown at l2 and [3 in Figure 2. The gases to be separated, that is, nitrogen and oxygen of the atmosphere, enter the casing by means of a conduit I l and passes into a central compression chamber l5 defined by rotatable concentric walls 16 and I! of annular flaring form which converge gradually toward the rear of the machine as shown in Figure 2.

An annular division plate l8 projects inwardly at the rear of the compression chamber in the gas separating region or zone thereof for effecting the division of the gases at this point, the heavier liquefied or partially liquefied oxygen passing outwardly over the plate l8 as indicated by arrow a, and through a member l9 having both horizontal and vertical passages 19a and I9?) therein, the former for the oxygen and the latter for the nitrogen. See Figs. 2 and 8. The oxygen passes the member I9 through duct I90 having curved blades |9d therein and into a. stationary annular passage 20 defined by the walls 20a, 20b and within which passage are stationary blade 200 at the entrance and additional blades 20d at the exit end. Partitions 20d, secured to each of the walls 20a, 20b, extend throughout the length of the passage and resist outward deflection of the walls. From passage 20 the oxygen passes into a chamber A of an inside turbine comprising additional stages or chambers B, C and D. Within these chambers are turbine blades 2|, 22, 23, 24 which are secured to the wall l6. These blades are curved at the rear or exit ends (see blades 23 in Figure 4) but uncurved at their forward ends as illustrated in Figure 5.

Between the stages of the inner turbine, connecting annular ducts 25, 2B and 21 are provided of increasing diameter to accommodate the expandingoxygen as it passes successively from one stage to the next. Stationary blades or partitions 25a, 26a and 21a are provided in the ducts, and at the outlet ends thereof curved turbine blades 25b, 26b and 21b, respectively, (see Fig, 5) are provided for deflecting the issuing gas against the respective turbine blades 2| to 24 respectively for rotating the same and the walls l6 and H.

The blades 2| to 24 inclusive, being connected to the wall 5, conduct heat from the air during compression thereof in chamber to the oxygen, thereby lowering the temperature of the air to the desired degree and effecting the expansion of the separated oxygen and increasing its velocity Fig. 3.)

through the stages of the inner turbine for imparting rotary movement thereto. The oxygen passes from stage D between stationary blades 28, thence between rotary blades 29 to the axial duct 30 and thence to a. conduit 3| which may convey it to a storage tank, for example.

The nitrogen passes from the separating chamber beneath or radially inwardly of the separating plate l8, as indicated by arrow b, through passages l9b of member l9 and between curved impeller blades l9e carried by member l9. (See The movement of the nitrogen to and through the passages l9b further compresses the same with the result that the heat thereby generated is conducted through the walls of member is to the passages l9a. for evaporating liquid oxygen passing therethrough. The nitrogen then 7 passes into stage E of the outer turbine comprising stationary curved blades 32 secured to the outer shell II, and movable turbine blades 33 curved at the exit ends thereof, and secured to the wall ll. It passes to the next stage F of the outer turbine which comprises stationary blades 34 secured to wall I1 and movable impeller blades 35 secured to the rotary wall l1. Additional stages G and H are provided in the outer turbine comprising similar pairs of stationary and movable blades 36, 31 and 38, 39 respectively, all of which cooperate with the inner turbine in imparting movement to the walls l6, II which define the centrifuging and compression chamber l5. From the stage 4 the nitrogen passes to an outlet pipe 40.

Within the compression chamber l5 are numerous blades or fins 4| extending from wall I6 to wall l1 for absorbing heat from the compressed air and directing the same to said walls where it is carried by the respective movable blades of each turbine into intimate contact with the oxygen and nitrogen which respectively are flowing through the inner and outer turbines. The heat removed from the air during the compression thereof is thus transferred to the previously separated gases for expanding the same and effecting rotation of the structure by means of which the centrifugal gas separating action is effected. The separated gases after passing through the respective turbines, if desired, may be conducted into heat transfer relation with the incoming air for cooling the latter after the initial compression thereof and prior to its entrance into the compression chamber l5.

In Fig. 2 it will be observed that the rotary portion of the structure comprises the walls l5 and IS, the member l9, and the inner and outer turbine blades. This structure rotates, as stated, on bearings l2 and I3, and is supported at the rear by a rear wall 42. On one side of the hearing l2 a labyrinth packing 43 is provided to prevent the fiow of air from the air intake pipe l4 through the bearing and into the adjacent nitrogen passage. Other labyrinth packing 44 is located in the opposite side of the bearing 12 and the gas in this bearing space permitted to escape through one or more ports 45 to keep the gas at a lower pressure than the adjacent nitrogen. On opposite sides of bearing l3 are labyrinth packings 46, 41 to prevent the interchange of the gases. One or more ports 48 are provided in the rear end wall I la of the casing to lower the pressure of the gas therein to the pressure of the ad- J'acent oxygen.

As shown in Fig. 1 the air intake duct 4|, and

the oxygen and nitrogen outletducts 3| and 40 tively, for regulating the flow of the gases therethrough. The outlet pressure of the gases is, of course, relatively low as compared with the intake pressure of the air.

If pure nitrogen is to be produced, the oxygen valve 50 should be fully opened while if pure oxygen is desired, the oxygen valve should be partly closed to create sufficient back pressure at the gas separating zone to assure that no nitrogen will pass through the passage |9a of member 19.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, between conduit 30 and the ducts 20, 25, 26 and 21, radially disposed webs or supporting plates 52 are provided and similar webs 53 are provided in duct 30 which converge at 54 in the axis of the machine. This arrangement provides a machine structurally adequate to sustain the stresses to which it is subjected during operation In Figures 2 and 8 heat insulating gaskets 55 and 56 are shown at margins of the member l3 to prevent forward conduction to walls l6 and ll of the heat generated by the further compression of the nitrogen within the passages l9?) to thereby effect evaporation of the liquid oxygen as it passes through the. adjacent passages l9a. The separating plate or flange l8 preferably is provided with a heat insulation strip 51 to assist in confining the nitrogen-generated heat for absorption also by the oxygen as it passes through the member l9.

Where the nitrogen and the oxygen of air are to be separated by the method described, the capacities of the inner and outer turbines of the machine should be proportioned with respect to the relative proportions of the gases. This is likewise true with reference to the separation of other gases.

By means of the present improvements it will be seen that the heat generated by the compression of the gases in the compression chamber is utilized in expanding the gases in the turbines for operating the same and thereby making use of available energy which would otherwise be wasted.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for separating gases comprising an annular centrifuging chamber for the mixed gases reducing in cross sectional area from the intake to the exhaust end thereof, turbine impeller chambers in heat transfer relation with the inner and outer peripheries of said centrifuging chamber and each having an intake end communicating with the exhaust end of said chamber, means for directing separated gases from said exhaust end into said turbine impeller chambers, and turbine impeller blades in said impeller chambers operable by the gases flowing through the same for effecting rotation of the centrifuging chamber for effecting compression of the gases flowing therethrough and centrifugal separation thereof.

2. Mechanism for separating gases comprising an annular centrifuging chamber for the gases for centrifugally separating the same, turbine impeller chambers having blades in heat transfer relation with the inner and outer walls of said chamber for abstracting the heat of compression of said gases, and means for directing separated gases from said centrifuging chamber into said turbine chambers for expanfor compressing and centrifugally separating gases flowing through the chamber, turbines having blades in heat transfer relation with each of said walls for abstracting heat of compression from said chamber, means at said outlet end of said chamber for directing each of the separated gases into one of said turbines for expansion therein and actuation thereof for effecting rotation of said chamber, and heat conducting fins in said chamber for conducting heat from the gases to said walls during the compression of said gases.

4. Mechanism for separating gases comprising concentric inner and outer turbine chambers, an annular centrifuging chamber disposed between said turbine chambers and having outer and inner rotary walls common to said turbine chambers, said centrifuging chamber having outlets for directing separated gases into said turbine chambers, and heat conducting impeller blades in said turbine chambers secured to said rotary walls for effecting rotation of said centrifuging chamber and conducting heat of compression therefrom to the said respective turbine chambers for efl'ecting the expansion of the separated gases passing therethrough.

5. Apparatus for separating gases comprising a centrifuging chamber, a pair of turbine chambers arranged in heat transfer relation with respect thereto and each having a wall common to said centrifuging chambers, heat conducting impeller blades in the respective turbine chambers secured to said walls for rotating said centrifuging chamber to effect the compression and separation of gases therein and the expansion of gases withinthe respective turbine chambers, and means for conducting separated gases from the centrifuging chamber into the respective turbine chambers.

EMERY C. FURRER. 

